Coin bank



y 1955 F. w. BOWER 2,709,037

COIN BANK Filed ma 5, 1953 IN VEN TOR.

United States Patent COIN BANK Frank W. Bower, Goshen, Ind. Application May 5, 1953, Serial No. 353,037

' 1 Claim. c1. 232-4 The present invention relates to coin banks and, particularly, to a device in the form of an attachment adapted to be secured to a conventional container to comprise a coin bank.

A coin bank to be truly practical must provide a receptacle, a coin slot through which coins may be inserted into the receptacle, a one-way valve structure or the like at the slot whereby coins inserted in the receptacle cannot be removed from the receptacle through the slot, and a locking arrangement whereby the coins cannot be removed from the receptacle except by authorized persons. While the receptacle may take various forms, the provision of a coin bank receptacle constitutes a large cost factor in manufacture due to the necessity for special formation and manufacture of the receptacle. In addi tion, a preference has been acquired in the art for transparent receptacles or containers since the same accommodate ready observation of the coins accumulated and saved. Obviously, the provision of a high grade transparent receptacle is very costly.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome the above noted disadvantage of conventional coin banks by obviating the necessity for provision of a special container or receptacle. In particular, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved coin bank employing a conventional readily available and economically produced container.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device in the nature of an attachment adapted to be secured to a conventional container, without revision of the container, to comprise a coin bank.

In accordance with the present invention,'I provide a device comprising a cover adapted tobe secured to and close the open top of a conventional container, the device or cover providing a coin slot, a valve at the slot, and a lock. Thecontainer preferably comprises a milk bottle, such as a half pint bottle, whereby a high grade transpresent receptacle is provided at extremely low cost. As will be apparent, the continuous mass production of milk bottles by a number of manufacturers leads'to a very low priced receptacle, particularly as compared to the necessity for providing specially formed containers in conventional coin banks. The coin bank of the invention may be supplied either as a complete bank including the milk bottle receptacle, or merely as an attachment whereby the user may apply the same to a milk bottle readily available to him. In either case, the resultant bank is economical, highly practical and very attractive, and provides all'the advantages a coin bank should possess.

An additional object of the invention is the provision of a coin bank attachment of the character described comprising a pair of articulated cover parts each including I depending portions adapted to engage the container about the open end thereof and each including eye portions 'adapted to be aligned for the passage therethrough of a pin .or look to clamp the attachment to the container.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a coin bank attachment of the character described above wherein the coin slot is provided at the line of separation of the two cover parts and a simplified valve means is associated with the cover to block passage of coins from the inside of the cover to the outside thereof when the cover parts are mounted on a container.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of novel coin bank means of a highly economical and practical nature.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Now, in order to acquaint those skilled in the art with the manner of constructing and using the coin bank means of the invention, I shall describe, in connection with the accompanying drawings, a preferred embodiment of the invention and one manner of making the same.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a perspective view of a complete bank formed according to the invention including a milk bottie receptacle and the attachment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a layout view of the two cover parts of the coin bank attachment of the invention;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken through the cover parts as joined in use showing the articulated or pivotal association of the two parts and the cooperation of the parts with the lip of the bottle;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary side elevation of the cover parts as joined in use showing the eye portions thereof through which the lock is adapted to be passed;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view taken from the inside of the cover parts as joined in use showing one type of valve means associated therewith for blocking the coin slot; and 1 Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 showing another type of valve means.

Referring now to the drawings, I have shown the bank of the present invention as comprising a conventional milk bottle 10, such as a half pint bottle, serving as a transparent coin receptacle, and a cover attachment, indicated generally at 12, for the bottle, the attachment providing a coin slot 14 leading to the interior of the receptacle and being adapted to be secured to the bottle or receptacle by means of a lock 16. v

The cover attachment 12 is shown in Figure 2 as comprising a pair of cover parts 18 and 20. Since the opening, or open end, of a milk bottle is generally circular, the cover parts 18 and 20 are each preferably semi-circular. However, it will be appreciated as the description proceeds that the cover parts may take other forms as required to conform to various shaped openings. The cover parts 18 and 20 may be formed in any suitable manner, but the same preferably comprise metal stampings originally formed fiat as shown and then formed in the manner to be described As shown, each of the parts 18 and 20 includes a plurality of generally radially outwardly extending leg or finger portions 22. The parts 18 and 20 are adapted to be rolled downwardly adjacent the base of the finger portions 22 so that the portions 22 extend downwardly from the plate portions of the parts 18 and 20. Also, the portions 22 are rolled inwardly at the lower ends thereof so as to present a generally convex outer surface as the same are viewed in side elevation. As is shown in Figure 3, the curvature of the leg or finger portions 22 provides an interfitting engagement with the lip 24 surrounding the top or open endof the bottle 10, whereby the cover parts may be secured to the bottle with the fingers'ZZ grasping the'jlip '24' and holding the'cover' to the bottle.

The two cover parts 18 and 20 are adapted to be articulated or pivoted together to accommodate ready association o f the curved fingers 22 with the lip 24 0f the bottle in a convenient manner. While many conventional pivots will serve the purpose, the present invention provides an improved and very economical articulated joint. As is shown in Figures 2 and 3, the improved joint comprises, merely, an opening 26 formed in one of the'end finger portions 22 of one ofthe cover parts, for example 20, and a T-shaped extension 23 on the corresponding end finger portion of the other cover part 18. When the finger portions 22 are bent downwardly in the formation of the cover parts, the extension 28 is curved to correspond to the circular outline of the cover parts 18 and 20. The opening 26 is preferably rectangular and has a width slightly greater than the width of the stem portion of the extension 28, the length of the opening being such as to provide at least a diagonal dimension accommodating insertion of the head 30 of the T-shaped extension 28 therethrough. In use, the head 30 of the extension 28 is disposed to the inside of the finger 22 in which the opening 26 is formed and abuts against the inner surfaces of the finger defining the margins of the opening 26, whereby the head 30 retains the parts in assembled and articulated relation. The stem portion of the extension 28 extends freely through the opening 26 to accommodate movement of the two cover parts toward and away from one another, whereby the two parts may be readily associated with the open end of the bottle 10. Due to the slidable association of the stem of the extension 28 in the opening 26, the articulated joint is capable of accommodating adjustment of the cover to bottles of slightly different sizes. Since the articulated joint of the invention is provided directly from the material of the cover parts, and does not require additional elements in the assembly of the cover parts, it will be appreciated that the same is of a highly economical nature.

At the free edges thereof, that is, at the end or side thereof opposite the articulated joint or connection, the cover parts are provided with means for securing the same together and to the bottle 10. Specifically, as is shown in Figures 2 and 4, one of the end fingers 22 at the side of the cover opposite the articulated joint, on one cover part 18, is provided with a pair of spaced parallel extensions 32 and 34 adapted to be bent in a circular path to define a pair of eyes. In the final formation of the cover part 18, the eyes are disposed in vertical alignment. The corresponding end finger 22 of the other cover part 20 is provided with a single extension 36, also adapted to be bent to define an eye, so disposed as to be adapted to enter between the extensions 32 and 34 in the end formation of the attachment to bring the three eyes into vertical alignment. When the three eyes 32, 34 and 36 are vertically aligned, the same are adapted for the reception of a pin, bolt, or the like to secure the attachment to the bottle. In particular, the eyes are adapted for the reception of the free leg of the U-shaped bolt 38 of the lock 16, whereby the attachment is adapted to be locked to the bottle 10. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that the extensions 32, 34 and 36 comprise lock means disposed at the side of the attachment opposite the articulated connection of the two cover parts 18 and 20.

The coin slot 14 may be located as desired in the attachment 12, in either of the parts 18 and 20 if desired, but the coin slot is preferably provided by notching each of the cover parts at corresponding locations along the base edges thereof, that is, along the central joint or line of separation between the two parts.

While the attachment may be employed with just the coin slot as thus far defined, a coin bank is not truly practical unless means he provided for preventing removal of coins through the slot. To accomplish this function, the attachment of the present invention preferably includes means, which I have termed a valve, or a one-way valve, for accommodating entry and preventing removal of coins, two preferred types of valve being shown in Figures and 6. The valve means shown in Figure 5 is of the general type disclosed in my Patent No. 2,620,128 and comprises a piece of material 40, such as fabric, felt, fibre, sheet material, rubber sheeting, or the like. I preferably employ a brightly colored piece of felt so that the felt showing through the coin slot 14 adds a decorative touch to the attachment. The material 40, as is shown, is provided wih a zigzag slit 42 therein defining alternate interfitting tabs 44, which tabs are disposed in alignment with the coin slot 14 to block or obstruct the slot. The tab or finger portions 44 of the material 40 preferably span the coin slot 14 so as to have engagement with the cover parts 18 and 20 to each side of the slot, although this is not entirely necessary. The valve 40 may be assembled to the cover parts when the same are joined together, by first providing the zigzag slit 42 in a unitary piece of material, then gluing or otherwise securing the single piece of material to both of the parts 18 and 20 and finally extending the slit 42 along the line of separation of the cover parts, as is indicated at 46, whereby the valve becomes a two piece member, and whereby accurate alignment and interfitting of the tabs in use is assured. In use, the tabs 44 will readily flex to accommodate insertion of coins into the receptacle or bottle 10. However, the tabs will present sufficient resistance or obstruction to prevent the removal of coins through the coin slot. Further, if the tabs span the slot completely, the same will abut against both cover parts when pressure is exerted from the inside of the receptacle positively to prevent removal of coins.

The second embodiment of the valve means for preventing removal of coins through the coin slot, as shown in Figure 6, comprises a sheet 48 of spring steel or the like defining a plurality of tabs or finger portions 50 that are substantially parallel and preferably span the slot 14 transversely thereof. The sheet may be suitably secured to one of the cover parts by one or more rivets 52, or like fasteners, or by spot welding, as desired. As will be apparent, the tabs or fingers 50, being formed of spring steel, will readily accommodate the insertion of coins in the bank, but will positively prevent removal of coins through the coin slot.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that the present invention provides a novel coin bank in the form of a cover adapted to be attached to a conventional container, wherein the attachment and the resultant bank are of a highly economical, practical and attractive nature.

While I have described what I regard to be a preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be apparent that various changes, rearrangements and modifications may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention, as defined by the appended claim.

I claim:

A coin bank comprising a milk bottle having a circular opening at one end thereof and a radially outwardly bulged lip circumscribing said opening, and a detachable cover for said bottle to close said opening, said cover comprising a pair of semi-circular cover parts resting on the top surface of said bottle and together complementing and closing said opening, each of said cover parts at the outer margin thereof including depending inwardly curved integral fingers grasping the side and lower surfaces of said lip to retain said cover parts on said bottle, one end finger of one of said parts having a horizontal slot therein, the adjacent end finger of the other of said parts having an integral horizontally extending T-shaped extension projecting toward said one end finger of said one part, said T-shaped extension including a horizontal stern projecting through and slidable in said slot in said one end finger of said one part and a vertical head disposed to the interior of said one end finger of said one part and engaging the interior surface thereof at the opposite sides of said slot detachably to connect said cover parts in articulated relation, one of said parts at the opposite end finger thereof having an integral horizontally extending ex- 3 tension curved upon itself to define a vertically open eye, the adjacent end finger of the other of said parts having a pair of integral horizontally extending spaced parallel extensions curved upon themselves to define a pair of aligned vertically open eyes, the eye extension of said finger of the one cover part being received between and aligned vertically with the eye extensions of the adjacent finger of the other cover part, a lock having a bolt extending through said aligned eyes detachably to lock said cover parts together and to said bottle, the base edges of said cover parts being notched at corresponding locations centrally of the opening in said bottle to define a coin slot at the line of separation of said parts, and a valve secured to the lower surface of at least one of said cover parts and including portions extending across and obstructing said coin slot, said portions of said valve accommodating insertion of coins into said bottle and preventing removal of coins from said bottle through said coin slot.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

